Pound Force / Pound Mass Question

[dillonmhudson]

Also an answer to this question would be great:
"It takes 32.174 pounds force (lbf) to accelerate one pound mass (lbm) one foot per second per second (ft/s^2)

Correct?"


Thanks

 

[PhanthomJay]

That is not correct. The Imperial/British/USA system of measure, whatever you call it, is confusing. A one pound-mass weighs 1 pound on Planet Earth. It is very confusing in Physics to use the pound-mass term. Instead, always use the 'slug' for mass if using this system. 1 slug weighs about 32 pounds on planet earth. One pound of force will accelerate 1 slug at the rate of 1ft/sec^2. I leave it to you to determine how many pounds of force will accelerate a one pound-mass at 1ft/sec^2, if you dare (it's a lot less than 32 pounds force to do so).

 

[dillonmhudson]

Goodness... ok.
I only use pound force and pound mass because my professor uses them.

Thanks!

 

[PhanthomJay]

That's unfortunate in my estimation. When using, for example, F=ma, if you want F in pounds of force and 'a' in ft/sec^2, you'd better be using slugs for the mass unit, or you'll get all messed up.

 

[dillonmhudson]

I agree. I can understand slugs well because I can relate them to kgs... but throwing lbm into the mix is just overkill.